Page 70 of One Bad Idea
I tried to laugh. "You didn'tshowhim. You dragged him."
"Yeah? And you made no move to stop it."
I almost scoffed out loud. "Are you serious?" I made a point of looking Jaden up and down, taking in his broad shoulders and considerable height, especially compared to me. And then, I forced a laugh. "As if I could."
"Meaning?"
"I'm just saying, you're a lot bigger than I am."
"Yeah. I am, which is why I handled it. And I'll tell you something else. You were glad I showed up."
Now, I did scoff. "I was not." This was actually true. I'd been horrified to see him, mostly because I dreaded the thought of getting fired. And yet, there was a part of me that, yes, might've been the teeniest bit relieved.
But I had no idea how to say this, or even if I should, so I gave a useless shrug and said nothing else.
Jaden gave me a penetrating look. "And you wanna knowhowI know that?"
"How?"
"Because I've seen you in action."
"What doesthatmean?"
"It means, you don't give two shits about provoking someone twice your size."
I sputtered, "What?"
"You know it. And I know it. So don’t give me that story and think I'll buy it." He gave a low scoff. "I can smell bullshit a mile away."
"Oh yeah? Well maybe you're forgetting something."
"What's that?" he said.
"You're my boss."
"So?"
"So, it's not like I'm gonna be all rude or anything."
His eyebrows lifted, but he made no reply. He didn't have to. We both knew what he was thinking. Technically, I was being at least a little rude now. But that was hardly the point.
I tried again. "I don't meannow," I clarified. "I meant in the lobby. Like, what was I supposed to do? Tell you to butt out? Follow you into the garage? Try to 'rescue' him?" I forced another laugh. "I can just imagine."
"Imagine what?"
"Well for starters, your reaction."
"Yeah? You wanna know whatIcan imagine?"
"What?"
"You not giving a rat's ass what I thought, not if you liked the guy."
I opened my mouth, intending to say something sharp and cutting. But words failed me as I considered the truth of what he'd just said.
Not too long ago,Brycehad been my boss, and I hadn't hesitated to tellhimwhere to go when a friend's safety was at stake.
But that was different.
